Water where it shouldn't be

The rains destroyed two homes, one along Lake Ann south
of Howard Lake, and another seasonal cabin at the east shore of Big Waverly
Lake, which was lifted off its foundation by a mud slide across Wright County
Road 9.

Standing water was found in places that were not considered
low lying areas, cutting off travel to several county roads and even Highway
12 at the west end of Howard Lake.

Many flood victims stood in shock the day after the rains,
wondering how water could be found where it was. Most of the damage was
reportedly not covered by insurance.

Others noted surprise runoff from new developments in both
Howard Lake and Waverly.

"I've never seen it like this," commented Waverly
Fire Chief Mark Karels, referring to water that overflowed a nearby drainage
ditch near his business, Mark's Service Station.

Even crews from the Minnesota Department of Transportation
admitted being surprised where the water ended up, washing out roads that
are not known for flooding.

Fuel tanks floating along Highway 12

Two fuel tanks owned by Cenex/Lake Region Cooperative were
dislodged from their footings Tuesday morning, and ended up floating alongside
Highway 12 for several hours.

The loose tanks, one gas and the other diesel, were partially
full and floated like corks on the water, said said General Manager Brian
Yager.

They are designed with safety shut off valves, which automatically
close off the pipe leading to the tanks, Yager said. There are emergency
numbers posted beside the tanks as well.

The diesel tank ended up floating into a swampy area adjacent
to the tank area, causing men to wade into water up to their necks to retrieve
it.

The other four tanks located at Howard Lake are nearly
full and too heavy to be moved, Yager said.

Each tank holds about 17,000 gallons.

This is the first time that Cenex/Lake Region Cooperative
has experienced problems with keeping storage tanks, Yager said.

The quick thinking and action of four men prevented the
tanks from turning into a disaster, Yager said.

The tanks became loose in the early morning hours and were
discovered by Darwin Zitzloff, a maintenance employee at Gordy Lund construction,
at about 5:30 a.m.

What likely caused the tanks to move in the first place
was the rippling water, called a "wake," from moving vehicles
driving through the standing water on Highway 12, Yager said.

Normally, the section of land that the tanks are located
on do not flood, even though it sits adjacent to a lower lying area, Yager
said.

Zitzloff called Cenex Branch Manager Frank Cruz of Cokato.

Two other Cenex employees, mechanic David Kautz of Cokato,
bulk fuel driver Paul Friedrichs came to the scene, Yager said.

Yager, Cruz, and Kautz ended up wading in water up to their
necks in order to secure the wayward tanks, Yager said. Friedrichs assisted
in traffic direction.

Cenex/Lake Region Cooperative owns the patch of land where
the tanks are located, but it plans to abandon this location for future
storage tank use, Yager said.

Jenell Sawatzke found two boats floating by her dock at
Big Waverly Lake Tuesday morning that she did not know who the owners were;
although they were located later, she said.

James Main, who has lived next to Waverly Lake for 35 years,
cannot remember his beach being washed out like this, he said. "Not
this heavy," he said.

Main and his wife, Dorothy, spent Tuesday morning picking
up rocks and gravel washed into their lawn. The Mains live near Wright County
Road 9, very close to where the mud slide occurred, a few houses down from
Craig Smith. Smith's house was lifted off its foundation during the mud
slide (see separate story).

Flooded detours

The water also managed to flood nearly every county road
in the surrounding area, including a mud slide the blocked Wright County
Road 9.

At one point Tuesday afternoon, Howard Lake travelers were
trapped from nearly all sides except from the east.

The initial routing traffic around Highway 12 Tuesday morning
sent travelers in circles, since the roads being used to detour were also
flooded, including two sections of Wright County Road 30, Wright County
Road 8, Wright County Road 107, Wright County Road 5, Highway 25 south of
Montrose, and then later in the day, Wright County Road 6 at the north end
of Howard Lake, which was temporarily overtaken by water from the lake.